Sylvania



J. KELSO.

DRAFT RIGGING FOR RAILWAY CARS.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJ, I917.

Patented June 10; 1919.

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.l. KELSO.

.DRAFT RIGGINGIFOR RAILWAY CARS.

. APPLICATION men AUG.I. 1911. 1,306,429.

Patented June 10, 1919. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 N um k sans PATENT onnro.

JOSEPH KELSO, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE MCCONWAY &

TORLEY COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PEN N- SYLVANIA.

DRAFT-RIGGING FOR RAILWAY-CARS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 11116 10, 1919.

Application filed August 7, 1917. Serial N 0. 184,852.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, J osnrn: KnLso, a citizen of the United St-ates, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inDraft-Rigging for Railway-Cars; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to Which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to draft rigging for railway cars and more particularly to means for detachably connecting the principal pants or draft members thereof. The object of the invention is to provide simple, efficient and reliable means for connecting the principal parts or draft members of a draft rigging in a manner permitting such parts to be readily assembled and disconnected. This object, generally stated, is accomplished by constructing the draft rigging of detachably connected draft members one of which is provided with a socket having shoulders adapted to engage corresponding shoulders on the proximate end of the adjacent draft member, the said socket shoulders being relatively movable tc permit the disassociation of said draft members, and one of the draft member parts being provided with'means movable by gravity to assembled position for normally preventing relative movement of the said socket shoulders.

In the drawings illustrating the best mode in which I contemplate applying the principles of my invention, the scope whereof is pointed out in the claims 7 Figure 1 is a plan view of a draft rigging embodying the invention, the rear portion of the draft yoke being omitted.

Fig. 2 is a detail plan View of the construotion showing the preferred manner of connecting the coupler head draft member to the coupler stem draft member.

Fig. 3 is a detail view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical longitudinal section, of the portion of the draft rigging illustrated in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the coupler head in rear elevation.

Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of the corn struction showing the preferred manner of connecting the coupler stem to the draft yoke.

Fig. 6 is a detail view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical longitudinal section of the preferred construction for connecting the coupler stem and draft yoke.

Fig 7 is a View showing the draft yoke in front elevation and the car coupler in transverse section.

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view, taken on the line 8-8, Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view, taken on the line 9-9, Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a detail view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section, illustrating the relative positions assumed by the movable bearing block and gravity actuated locking device when the draft members are being brought into assembled position.

The draft members of the form of draft rigging illustrated in the drawings are a coupler head 1, a coupler stem 2, and a yoke 3. The coupler head 1 is preferably pivota'lly connected to the coupler stem 2, and the latter preferably pivotally connected to the draft yoke 3 by the means hereinafter described. Except for features specified in the claims the coupler head 1, the coupler stem 2 and the draft yoke 3 may be of any desired construction. The form of coupler stem illustrated substantially corresponds to that shown and described in the William Kelso Patent No. 950,485, granted March 1, 1910, being provided with means not only for centralizing the car coupler as a whole, but also for centralizing the coupler head with respect to the coupler stem. The draft yoke 3 is illustrated as of a form suitable for draft rigging of the tandem type, having two compartments 4, 4, each of which is adapted to receive one of the well known cushioning units comprised of a pair of followers and interposed springs.

The means employed for pivotally connecting the coupler head 1 to the draft stem 2, and for pivotally connecting the stem to the forward end of the draft yoke 3, are preferably of an identical nature. The rear end of the coupler head 1 is provided with a recess or socket 5 adapted to receive the forward end of the coupler stem 2. The forward end of the coupler stem is shouldered, being preferably fashioned on its upper and lower sides with oppositely disposed cylindrical pivot. lugs 6. The socket 5 is preferably formed with rearwardly flaring side walls 7 connected by a top wall 8 and a bottom wall 9, there preferably being also a transversely extending wall 10 which is adapted to cooperate with the forwardend of the draft stem in the transmission of buffing shocks to the latter. The rearward divergence or flaring of the lateral walls 7, 7 of the coupler head permits the head 1 to rotate or turn upon the pivot lugs or pintles 6 at the forward end of the coupler stem.

The recess or stem receiving socket 5 is provided with a plurality of curved bearing shoulders adapted to respectivelv engage the corresponding shoulders of pivot lugs 6 of the coupler stem. These socket shoulders are relatively movable, thereby permitting them to be separated a suflicient distance to allow the forward end of the coupler stem 2 to be readily inserted in or withdrawn from the socket 5 One of the socket shoulders is preferably formed on the lower part of the interior of the socket, as at 11, in such position that it engagingly overlies the rear face of the lower pivot lug 6. The other socket shoulder 12 is preferably movable vertically under the influence of gravity toward the stationary socket shoulder 11. WVhen in assembled position it overlappingly engages the rear face of the upper pivot-lug 6. The movable socket shoulder 12 may be conveniently formed as one of the faces of a block 13 which is slidably mounted on the coupler head 1 so as to be movable through an opening lt in the upper wall of the coupler head. The member 13 which is preferably somewhat wider at the rear than at the front, is interposed between the upper pivot lug 6 of the coupler stem and in-v wardly extending lateral spaced lugs or stops 15 near the upper side of the coupler head, thus transmitting draft strains from the coupler head to the upper pivot lug of the coupler stem when the parts are in assembled relation.

Where either of the socket shoulders is formed as a fixed or stationary part of the coupler head, the interior height of the re cess or socket 5 is, as shown, greater than the maximum height of the portion of the coupler stem 2 which enters said socket. To restrain upward movement of the coupler stem within the socket 5, the block 13 is preferably formed with a forwardly extending overhanging portion 16 which is adapted to engage thetop of the upper pivot lug 6. Means are provided for normally preventing upward movement of the member 13 with respect-to the socket shoulder 11, such means conveniently consisting of a gravity actuated bar 17 that is slidably mounted in a slot 18 extending downwardly and rearwardly through the member '13. The upper end of thebar 17, which may project beyond the top of the coupler head so as to offer a proper hand hold for raisingthe block 13,

is preferably. provided with shoulders 19 which engage corresponding shoulders on the member 13 to limit the downward movement of said member 17 with respectrto the block 13. A cotter 20 which passes through the lower end of the locking member 17 serves to maintainthe latter in assembled relation with the movable block"1'3 upon which it is mounted. The rear face of the member "13 is suitably recessed, as at 21 to may be provided at its end with a lugor projection 24 and the'under surface of the upper wall 8 of the coupler headmaylbe formed with a corresponding recess 25, such constructionpreventing the escape of the block 13 while permitting it to be raised sufliciently high in the coupler head to allow the introduction and Withdrawal of the'coupler stem 2.

The connection at the rear en'd of the draft stem 2 to the forward endof the draftv yoke 3 is effected-by means which are substantially thev same 'as'the construction already described. As shown in Figs. 5 to 10, inclusive, of the drawings, the rear end or biit't of the coupler stem 2is shouldered, said' shouh ders preferably being constituted by oppositely extending cylindrical pivot lugs 6 The forward end of the yoke has a hollow head or socket 5 corresponding to the socket 5 of the coupler head and adapted to receive the butt of the stein 2. The socket 5 is formed with forwardly diverging side walls 7 which permit the coupler stenrto swing laterally or pivot with respect to tlieyoke 3 when the train is passing around a curve.

Top and bottom walls, 8 and 9 respectively,

connect the side walls 7 and a transversely extending wall 10 preferably connects the top, bottom and side walls. The transverse wall 10 of the draft yoke is adapted to en gage the forward follower (not shown) of the well known. form of cushioning device mounted in the forward pocket or compartment 4; of the draft yoke. The socket 5 of the draft yoke is provided with a plurality of shoulders 11 and 12 which respectively correspond in form and function to the shoulders 11 and 12. The vertically slidable member 13 11 which the shoulder 12 is formed may be'identical in form with the member 13 heretofore described. It is mounted in an opening 142* in the upper wall 8 of the draft yoke, is provided W h a realwardly extending portion, 16 which engagingly overlies the pivot lug 6 upon the upper surface of the coupler stem, and it, is slotted, as at 18", to receive a slidable gravity actuated bar 17 whose lower end 22- extends under the portion 23* of the upper wall of the hooded end of the draft yoke to thereby positively prevent accidental upward movement of the bearing member 13*. It is also preferred to provide the member 13 with a forwardly projecting lug 24 and to fashion the upper wall 8 of the hooded end of the yoke with a recess 25 adapted to receive the said lug. The lug 24 as will be understood from the explanation heretofore given with respect to the similar lug 2% formed on the bearing block 13 at the forward end of the draft rigging, serves to prevent the escape of the member 13 when it is raised to allow the rear end of the coupler stem 2 to be inserted in the socket 5 of the draft yoke. The upper end of the locking bar 17 normally extends above the top Wall 8 of the draft yoke so that it may be readily grasped to release the bearing member 16. Shoulders or lugs 19 which engage corre 'sponding shoulders on the member 13 are preferably employed to limit the downward movement of the locking slide 17. A cotter 20 may be employed to retain the member 17* in assembled relation, the forward face of the member 13 being recessed, as at 21*, so as to receive the cotter and permit the lower end of the locking bar to be Withdrawn from beneath the portion 23 of the upper wall 8 of the draft yoke. The member 13 normally extends behind laterally spaced stops or lugs 15 near the upper side of the socket end of the draft yoke 3, thereby support-ing the member 13 against draft strains and communicating them to the draft yoke.

In assembling the draft rigging the member 13 is introduced through the mouth of the socket 5 in the coupler head 1, and raised high enough in the aperture 14 to permit the slidable bar 17 to be associated therewith. After the cotter 20 has been passed through the end of the bar 17 the member 13 may be raised and sustained in released position by causing the lower end of the bar to rest upon the upper surface of the top wall 8 of the draft yoke, as Will be readily understood upon reference to Fig. 10. The forward end of the coupler stem 2 of the draft rigging may then be inserted in the socket 5, and the shoulder or pivot lug 6 on the lower side of the stem brought into interlocking engagement with the corresponding shoulder 11 on the interior of the coupler butt. The bearing member 13 is then moved to normal position so that the shoulder 12 thereof extends behind the upper pivot lug 6. The downward movement of the locking member 17 to normal position completes the assembling of the coupler head 1 upon the coupler stem 2. The assembling of the cow pler stem and draft yoke 3 is performed in a similar manner.

I claim:

1. In a draft rigging, the combination of detachably connected draft members one of which is provided with a socket having shoulders adapted to engage corresponding shoulders on the adjacent draft member, said socket shoulders being relatively movable to permit the dissociation of said draft members, and one of said draft members being provided with means movable by gravity to operative position for normally preventing relative movement of said socket shoulders.

2. In a draft rigging, the combination of detachably connected draft members one of which is provided with relatively movable curved bearing shoulders and one of which is provided with pivot lugs respectively adapted to engage the said bearing shoulders, and means movable by gravity to assembled position for normally maintaining said bearing shoulders in assembled relation.

8. A draft yoke having at its forward end a shouldered socket adapted to receive the shouldered butt of a car coupler, said socket shoulders being adapted to engage the corresponding shoulders of the coupler butt to thereby operatively connect the coupler and yoke and being relatively movable to permit the coupler to be dissociated from said yoke, and said yoke being provided with means movable by gravity to operative position for normally preventing relative movement of said socket shoulders.

4. The combination with a draft yoke having a plurality of shoulders adapted to engage corresponding shoulders on a coupler butt to operatively connect the coupler to the yoke, at least one of said shoulders of the yoke being movable out of the path of the corresponding shoulder on the coupler butt to thereby permit the coupler to be disconnected from the yoke, of a car coupler having a shouldered butt adapted to engage corresponding shoulders on the yoke, and means automatically movable to assembled position for normally maintaining said movable shoulder of the yoke in assembled position.

5. In a draft rigging, the combination of detachably connected draft members one of which is provided with separable shoulders adapted to engage corresponding shoulders on the adjacent draft member, said separable shoulders normally tending under the influence of gravity to assume and remain in assembled relation, and means for arresting the separation of said separable shoulders after they have been" separated sufliciently to allow the passage of the adjacent draft member.

61111 a draft rigging, the combination of detachably connected draft members one of which is provided with relatively movable shoulders adapted to approach each other under the influence of gravity and to be engaged by corresponding shoulders on the adjacent draft member said relatively moifi 10 7 able shoulders nolni'ially tending to assume and remain 1n assembled relation, and means for maintaining said relatively movable shoulders in a position permitting th e connection and disconnection of said draft 15 Copies of this patent maybe obtained forfive cents each; by'address'ing the Commissioner of iaten'ts,

Washington, I). c." 

